Golf ball teeing mechanism



June l0, 1958 1, MozEL 2,838,313

GOLF BALL TEEING MEcHANIsM Filed Dec. 2o. 1954 :s sheets-sheet 1 l u lll I 37A 9 6 40 f ATTORNEY June 10, 19'58 J. MozEL f 2,838,313

GOLF' BALL TEEING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dc. A2o. 1954 v (ll ll/Aillll INVEN TOR. JOE MOZEL ATTORNEY' Gota naar. TEEING MECHANISM Joe Morel, Portland, Oreg. Application neember zo, 1954, serial No. 476,421

4 ctaims. (ol. 273-201) This invention relates to golf ball teeing with a portable electric mechanism, and is particularly adapted to teaching golf to those learning to play and practicing with real golf .balls with wood and iron clubs indoors or outdoors.

A still further object is to provide a portable standing platform for housing the automatic electric tee mechanism, This platform also supports a rubber lor other resilient driving mat, and a dispensing golf ball hopper.

This new and improved golf ball `electric teeing mechanism is particularly adapted to be used in connection with a portable drop curtain or canvas back stop supported by a metal frame for home or indoor use.

This application may be considered` as a further ampliiication and development of the prior patents to this applicant, one of which was issued September 15, 1942, bearing No. 2,295,599; another issued October 20, 19.42, No. 2,299,403, and two in 1950 designated by Nos. 2,520,- 952 and 2,525,823, respectively.

The salient feature ofthis embodiment is to lower or pancake the machine from its former high structure to a relatively lower and portable unit for immediate use.

This structure is portable and requires no installation cost, merely to connect to electrical outlet supply, either indoors or outdoors.

One object of the illustrated embodiment of this invention is to provide a compact teeing mechanism having a supply hopper for the retention of golf balls combined with means co-operating with said hopperl to automatically dispense each ball onto the automatic rubber tee.

Another object is to provide a machine of this kind with an automatic electrically controlled golf ball tee which is adjustable to the proper height for all types of clubs, thus placing the golf ball in exactposition for the player. n Other objects and advantages of the embodiment of this invention will become apparent in the following speciication and appended claims, which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings form part of this application, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, taken on line 2 2.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

y Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the tee mechanism, taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional end view, taken on line S-Sof Figure l.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 6-6 of Figure l, parts broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, taken 2,838,313 Patented June 10, 1958 ice vil--i of Figure 7, illustrating the method of retaining the tee within its supporting unit.y v

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram illustrating vthe tee in inoperative position without any balls in theV dispenser or on the tee. f

Figure 13 illustrates the wiring diagram where balls are located within the dispenser.

Figure 14 illustrates the position of the switch after the machine has been started by manipulating the tee.

VFigure 15 illustrates theposition of the switches after the ball has been teed.

Figure 1,6 illustrates the position of the switches when the holding switch has been opened and the machine stopped ready for driving the ball.

Figure l7 is an enlarged'transverse section showing cam arrangement for operating the ball stops within the ball dispensing device.

Figure 18 `is a similar view showing the cam operation of the holding switch.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken through the ball guideway formed within the mat on line 19--1-9 of Figure l.

.Now with more detailed reference to the drawings:

Numeral 2 indicates the platform into which is inlaid -base plate 3 of the teeing mechanism, the top surface of which is ush with the top surface of the platform, while superimposed on said platform is a mat 4, composed of rubber or other tenacious material, and an artificial turf-like field brush or green 5, having vertically disposed bristles on the upper surface thereof to simulate turf.

A reduction gear unit 6 is attached to said base plate by means of screws 7, while a driving motor 8, is mounted to said reduction gear unit 6 which has extending therefrom in a horizontal plane a cam shaft 9, one end of which is journalled in said reduction gear unit 6, while its opposite end is journalled in the pillow block 10, A cam 11 is ixedly mounted to the end 12 of the cam shaft 9 by any suitable means, such as set screws 13.

Now referring particularly tov Figures 4, 5 and 7, a cross head 14, is slidably mounted on vertical pedestal 15, by way of bearing 16 the vertical position of the cross head is determined by the connecting rod 17, Which is pivotallyfattached to the cross head by pin 1S, and eX- tends transversely of the machine, passing through openin'gl 19, formed in the supporting bracket 20; a spring 21 is adapted to raise the rod 17, best shown in Figure 5.

The spring 2.1 has its one end 21 anchored to the horizontal arm of bracket Ztl by the clamp 21", and its yopposite end attached to connecting rod 17 at 23, as shown in Figure 5. A plunger 24 is vertically operable in bearing 25, which is formed in cross head 14 While a flexible golf ball rubber tee 26 is affixed to the upper end of said plunger which is normally held in a raised position by action of connecting rod 17 and spring 21, as best shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively.

The plunger 24 is held'from being removed from the bearing` 25 by the action of the spring wire 24A referring to Figure ll. The said wire is xedly secured to the cross head 14 at 25A, and is adapted to engage the groove 24B ofthe plunger preventing the said plunger and tee from -being removed from the cross head. The tee and plunger can be removed by moving the wire away from the groove as shown. by dotted lines in Figure 1l.

Attached to the cross head 14 is a bracket 28, which extends at right angles to said cross head and is adapted to support the pivotally mounted arm 27, referring to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 particularly. This arm is also adapted to support the micro switch 57.A The mounting of this switch is particularly illustrated inV Figure 4. l The lever 27 is pivotally mounted to the bracket arm 28 by the pivot bearing or pin 29, while on onerend of said lever is a downwardly extending Vyoke 30, which is adapted to engage the lower end 31 of the plunger 24'for supporting the weight of said plunger, referring particularly to Figure 7.

A counterweight 32 is mounted on the opposite end of lever 27, and is adapted to raisesaid yoke from the position shown by the broken lines, to the position indicated by the full lines, as illustrated in Figure 6. When the golf ball rests on the tee 26 the weight of said ball forces the plunger 24 downwardly against the yoke 30. This opens an electric circuit preventing the machine from operating until the ball is removed from the tee. When the ball is removed from the tee, this electric circuit is closed in order to start the machine in operation. When the switch 57 is closed as above described, it will energize the motor 8 causing the same to rotate the cam shaft 9 in the direction of the arrow as shown in the inverted plan view Figure 4; also in Figures 3, 17 and 18, the cam 11 to rotate in the direction of the arrow, by the cam shaft 9 pressing against the upper surface of rod 17 for the purpose of lowering the ball tee 2,6 for receiving the ball dispensed by lowering the cross head 14 on its guide 15 bringing the tee 26 into position forreceiving the ball to be dispensed from the magazine D.

The golf ball dispensing magazine D consists of a pair of vertically disposed stops B15-33a, slidably mounted in bearings 34-34a, housed within an inverted U-shaped I dispensing hood 35, which is secured to base plate 3 by any conventional means and within which ball tracks 36 are mounted, as shown in Figures 6 and 8.

Figures 3-4 and 6 show the lower ends 38-38a of stops 33-3311, passing through eyes 39 and 39a formed at one end of the operating rods 37 and 37a. The opposite ends of the said rods are pivotally engaged by lower end 40 of supporting bracket 41, suspended from the underside of base plate 3.

The free ends of rods 37 and 37a slide through openings 40 formed in bracket 41 to compensate for their radial movement, while lock nuts 42, threaded to the lower ends of plungers 38 and 38a provide vertical adjustment of rods 37-3711 relative to plungers 32a-33a, annular detents 43 are formed as part of the upper ends of said plungers for the purpose of seating helical springs 44 at their upper ends, while the lower ends of said springs rest on surface 45 of base plate 3. These springs compress when the plungers are pulled downwardly, but normally expand to force said plungers to their upward position. Rods 37-37a are raised or lowered as cam shaft 9 rotates, causing cams 46 and 46a to contact said rods for the purpose of releasing one of the golf balls, in the following manner.

The elevation of tee 26 is manually controlled by lever 48 which passes upwardly through base plate 3, and forms part of control shaft 49 which s journalled in bearing supports 50 and pillow block 10; said pillow block support is clamped to rod 49 by clamping screw 52, as shown in Figure 10. The object of this clamping action is to cause resistance to the movement of lever 48 and rotation of control shaft 49 for the purposev of holding lever 17 in a predetermined position by the crank 53 forming part of the rod 49, as shown in Figure 5. Crank 53 registers with cam 54 to limit the upward travel of rod 17 caused by spring 21 and consequently determining the vertical heighth of cross head 14, and tee 26.

When the golf ball teeing cycle is completed, a braking mechanism stops the rotation of cam shaft 9, because the rubber tee which supports the golf ball must be stopped in a predetermined position, referring to Figures 1, 4, 5

4 and 9. This braking mechanism comprises an arm 55, affixed to cam shaft 9 by means of set screw 55a, and passes upwardly intermediate the friction shoes 56, which are secured to the underside of base plate 3.

In order to operate the electric circuit, referring particularly to Figures 4 and6 and wiring diagrams a micro switch 57 is attached to arm 28 of cross head 14 and is controlled by tee 26. When a ball is on the tee, the switch is in open position as shown in Figures 15 and 16, but is closed when said ball is off the tee, as illustrated in Figures l2, 13 and 14. The sequence of operation is as follows: Finger 58 integral with lever 27 contacts plunger 59, opening switch 57 when a ball rests on tee 26; the weight of the ball lowers plunger 24 against yoke 30, thus overbalancing the weight of counterbalance 32, causing the linger 5S to open switch 57, while another micro switch 66 positioned adjacent dispensing unit D, and fastened to bracket 61, is operated by the weight of the balls in magazine 35 as they contact lever 62 which is located intermediate tracks 36 in the magazine as shown in Figure 8, and downwardly inclined as shown in Figure 6. One leg of lever 62 is downwardly bent to pass through oblong opening 63 in base plate 3, below which a right angular arm 64 is formed and extends horizontally to its terminal 65, where it is pivotally attached to bracket 61.

A leaf spring 66 is secured to switch 60 and normally contacts the underside of arm 64 at point 67, but closes the switch plunger 68 when ball B rests on the lever 62 when ball B rolls thereon as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 6.

A third micro switch 69 is also axed within the machine and suspends from base plate 3 intermediate rods 37-37a and adjacent cam shaft 49, as seen in Figures 3 and 4. This switch also has attached thereto an operating spring 70; the free end of which contacts cam 71 of cam shaft 9, Figure 18, during a major part of the cyle of operation. Spring 70 also operates switch plunger 72, shown in its open position in Figures 3, 12 and 16.

In order to operate the disclosed embodiment of this invention, a supply hopper 73, illustrated by broken lines in Figures 1 and 2 is provided, where the balls pass through opening 74 and into dispensing unit D, where they rest on tracks 36, and against the stops 33 and 33', referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6. Ball B is arrested when it registers with stop 33a, while ball B' is held back by stop 33, as seen in Figure 6. When the balls are thus arranged they press lever 62 downwardly against spring 66 until it forces plunger 68 to close the circuit controlled by switch 60, as illustrated in Figures 6, 13, 14, 15 and 16. thus taking energy from the main line 75, switch 60; and switch 57, which remains closed when there is no ball on tee 26; in this position motor 8 becomes energized through conductor 76, causing said motor to drive cam shaft 9 by means of reduction gear unit 6 in the direction of arrow as in Figure 4, which causes cam 46 to contact the top of rod 37 forcing said rod downwardly causing detent 43 to compress spring 44, referring to Figures 2 and 6, which allows ball B' to roll from tracks 35 onto track 77 into guideway or groove 78, where it comes to rest directly above the golf ball tee 26 at point 79, referring to Figure 1.

At the same time the ball B is released from dispenser D, the tee 26 will be lowered by action of cam 11 against the top of rod 17, and consequently lowering cross head 14 to the position shown in Figure 5, by the broken lines, after the cam shaft has travelled approximately degrees from its starting point it allows the stop 33 to rise and cause cam 46a to Contact rod 37a, referring to Figures 17 and 18, which in turn lowers stop 33a, thus allowing another ball to enter and rest against stop 33.

When the ball has been located on the tee 26 by the above operation, the switch 57 will be opened by the weight of the ball but the machine has not yet completed its cycle of operation, therefore the switch 69 will maintain the motor 8 in operation until the cycle has been completed in the following manner.

When the motor S was rst started, Figure 14, cam 71 closes switch 69 by forcing spring 70 against plunger- 72. This switch remains closed until cam shaft 9 completes a cycle of operation, but after a ball is teed the switch 57 is opened by the weight of the ball. The holding switch 69 will remain closed until the cam 71 allows the said switch to open at the end of the cycle as shown in Figure 16.

While this invention has been described in detail and with specific illustrations, it is understood that other modilications in construction and arrangements of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment is illustrative but not restrictive, since the scope and purview of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

Having thus fully illustrated and described an embodiment of the invention and a method of producing the same, in a manner that may enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and use the same, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A golf ball teeing mechanism, comprising a platform, a base plate set into said platformQa golf ball dispenser alixed to the upper surface of the platform for connection to a supply hopper, tracks to support golf balls afxed within the ball dispenser, a driving mat and artificial driving green superimposed on portions of the platform, vertically movable stops passing through the base plate to selectively control the forward movement of the golf balls, a bracket depending from the platform, a lever adapted to be depressed by the weight of each golf ball pivoted to the bracket, a reduction gear unit attached to the base plate, an operating motor secured to the reduction gear unit, a pedestal depending from said base plate, a pillow block vertically movable on said pedestal, a bearing alixed to and passing through said pillow block, a plunger operable in saidpbearing, a tee aiiixed to the upper end of said plunger, a rotary cam shaft journaled in the gear reduction unit and pillow block, a cam affixed to the free end of said cam shaft, a connecting rod pivoted to said pillow block, means attached to the base plate to support the free end of the connecting rod, a spring attached to and passing transversely of the base plate to engage the underside of the connecting rod to normally lift said cross head when the ball is olf the tee, a manually operable lever to regulate the vertical position of the tee, and an electric circuit to energize the motor to drive the reduction gear unit and cam shaft.

2. A golf ball teeing mechanism as described in claim 1, having lever attached to and extending from the cam shaft, friction shoes depending from the base plate for the purpose of temporarily holding the tee to a predetermined height and stopping the rotation of the cam shaft.

3. A golf ball teeing mechanism as described in claim 1, having a bracket attached to the cross head, a lever pivoted to said bracket, a counterweight aixed to said lever, a downwardly extending yoke attached to said lever remote from the counterweight to register with the lower end of the plunger for the purpose of supporting the weight of said plunger when the tee is lowered.

4. A golf ball teeing mechanism as described in claim 1, having a micro switch which opens when the ball is on the tee, a plunger resting on the yoke to compensate for the weight of the counterbalance, a second micro switch located adjacent the dispensing unit below the base plate and operated by weight of the golf balls in said dispensing unit, a lever pivoted above said second micro switch and extending upwardly through the dispensing unit intermediate the tracks, a leaf spring attached to said second References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mozel Sept. l5, 1942 Hogeberg Nov. 2l, 1950 

